Governance, social stability, and unionism in Nigeria: An analysis of the Buhari and Tinubu administrations
Keywords:
Governance, social stability, unionism, analysis, administrationAbstract
This paper reconnoiters governance, social stability, and unionism in Nigeria, with a focus on the administrations of Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It scrutinizes the socio-political challenges that have molded Nigeria’s governance, including political instability, economic oscillations, and security crises, heightened by historical legacies of colonialism and military rule. Labor unions, chiefly the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have played a crucial role in influencing government policies and sustaining social discourse. Both Buhari and Tinubu faced strong disapproval from unions, largely due to contentious economic reforms such as fuel subsidy removal. The study compares Buhari’s centralized and rigid approach to labor relations with Tinubu’s more mollifying stance, highlighting how both administrations navigated issues of security, economic governance, and public discontent. The paper concludes that successful engagement with unions and careful management of socio-economic reforms are essential for maintaining holistic stability in Nigeria.Downloads
References
1. Adekoya F. (2022). The Petroleum Industry Act and Buhari's Legacy: Too Little, Too Late? Nigerian Economic Review, 34(2), 45-56
2. Adesina O. (2021). The #EndSARS Movement and the Crisis of Governance in Nigeria. African Studies Quarterly, 18(3), 1-15
3. Adeyemi S. (2020). The Politics of Fuel Subsidy Removal in Nigeria: An Analysis of Labor Union Responses. African Journal of Political Science, 11(3), 121-134
4. Aghedo I. (2023). The Continuity of Crisis: Tinubu’s Security Challenges. African Affairs Review
5. Akhaine S.O. (2020). Governance and Social Order in Nigeria: Issues and Challenges. Journal of African Politics and Society, 12(1), 34-52
6. Akintunde O. (2020). Youth Unemployment and Economic Challenges in Buhari's Nigeria. Lagos: Prism Publications
7. Alubo O. (2012). Elites, Ethnic Minorities, and Governance in Nigeria. Journal of Social Science, 34(1), 23-30
8. Aluko Y. & Fashola S. (2020). Herders and Farmers Conflict in Nigeria: Causes, Consequences, and Policy Recommendations. Journal of African Studies, 18(1), 56-74
9. Aremu I. (2023). Unionism, Governance, and the Economy: The Tinubu Era in Perspective. Labour Studies Review, 8(2), 101-118
10. Aremu I. (2024). Tinubu and Labour Relations: New Trends in Unionism and Governance in Nigeria. Labour Watch Nigeria
11. Campbell J. (2020). Nigeria: What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press
12. Campbell J. (2021). Boko Haram's Enduring Threat in Nigeria: Buhari's Response. Council on Foreign Relations
13. Economist Intelligence Unit. (2023). Nigeria Economic Outlook 2023
14. Ezeani C. (2021). Anti-Corruption in Nigeria: Evaluating Buhari's War on Graft. Journal of African Politics, 10(1), 22-35
15. Falola T. (2021). Nigeria and the Politics of Post-Colonial Governance. Cambridge University Press
16. Federal Government of Nigeria. (2017). Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, 2017–2020. Ministry of Budget and National Planning
17. Ighodaro S. & Osaghae E. (2020). Economic Reforms and Labor Union Resistance in Nigeria: The Case of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). Journal of Economic Studies, 15(2), 89-104
18. IMF. (2021). Nigeria: 2021 Article IV Consultation—Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Nigeria. International Monetary Fund
19. Institute for Security Studies (ISS). (2021). Nigeria’s Complex Security Landscape: Boko Haram, Banditry, and Beyond
20. Locke J. (1689). Two Treatises of Government. Cambridge University Press
21. Mosca G. (1939). The Ruling Class. McGraw-Hill Book Company
22. Nigeria Labour Congress. (2021). A Report on the Wage Struggles and Challenges of Workers in Nigeria
23. Nkereuwem I. (2023). Insecurity in Nigeria: An Overview of Buhari’s Presidency. African Security Studies Journal, 19(3), 233-247
24. NLC. (2020). Labor Relations Under Buhari: A Report on Strikes and Negotiations. Nigerian Labour Congress
25. Ogundiya I. (2020). Corruption, Governance, and Accountability in Nigeria. Ibadan: Spectrum Books
26. Okojie C.E.E. (2011). Governance and Social Stability in Nigeria. African Journal of Governance and Development, 6(1), 49-68
27. Okonjo-Iweala N. (2018). Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines. MIT Press
28. Olomola A.S. (2018). The Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and Nigeria’s Agricultural Transformation. Agricultural Policy Research Network
29. Otobo D. (2016). The Role of Labour Unions in Nigeria's Political Economy. Malthouse Press
30. Pareto V. (1935). The Mind and Society. Harcourt, Brace
31. Rousseau J.-J. (1762). The Social Contract. Translated by G.D.H. Cole
32. Umeakuka A. & Ikpeze O. (2021). The End SARS Movement and Police Reforms in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis. Nigerian Journal of Political Studies, 22(2), 115-130
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.


